Progressive Jackpots

It’s no surprise why people love progressive jackpots.

Progressive jackpots are pots that are built up with side (bonus) bets and proceeds from maximum wager spins (slots). Every time someone makes one of these bets, a little more is added to the pot. When a player finally spins the winning combination or makes the best hand, they are awarded the entire jackpot. Sometimes this is tens, or maybe hundreds of dollars. Other times it’s thousands or millions of dollars.

Progressive jackpots are usually associated with slots. However, you can find a progressive jackpot in addition to other games like tri-card poker, caribbean stud and video poker. So you do have some variety.

The best, or at least the most exciting, progressive jackpot casinos will be the ones that build large pots often. They’ll have the widest variety of games, promotions, and above all, they’ll be safe and fair. Like our picks for the best progressive jackpot casinos, which you can find in our table below.

FAQs – Progressive Jackpot Questions and Answers

We get (or see) many questions about progressive jackpots, usually from first timers or people who play them live and are now trying them for the first time online. So I thought it’d be helpful to post those questions, and our answers, here for everyone to read.

Why play progressive jackpots?

Well, they’re fun. And you can win a lot of money.

Have you heard the saying, the thrill is in the chase? That’s what progressive jackpots are to me. It’s fun to bet the maximum or side bet and watch each reel or card like a hawk. Granted, winning thousands or millions of dollars would be great, too, but since that’s unlikely to happen, the process of trying to win is where I get my excitement from.

What makes a great progressive jackpot casino?

The same traits that make up any great online casino. The casino should be safe and secure. They should have a variety of banking options and games. And they should offer promotions, things like deposit bonuses, VIP programs or cashback rewards.

Other than that, you should find a casino that runs the specific game and progressive jackpot you want to play, at the stakes you can afford.

Can you still have the deposit bonus if you play progressive jackpots?

That depends. If you want to play slots then you should be ok.

However, if you want to play a progressive game that is attached to video poker, blackjack and tri-card poker, amongst several others, then no, you won’t be able to have the deposit bonus and be able to play the progressive games.

The reason why is because most casinos prohibit games like blackjack or video poker from being played for the bonus. In other words, these games don’t count towards your bonus. So, if you do choose to play them anyway, you won’t clear your bonus, and you run the risk of voiding your bonus money and any winnings you’ve earned with it.

How much can I win playing progressive jackpots?

Tens. Hundreds. Thousands. Even millions.

I live in the United States. Can I play progressive jackpots?

You can also find a casino on your own. They’ll let you know on their homepage, terms and conditions or FAQs page whether or not they accept US customers. If you can’t find the information anywhere then you can contact support and they’ll be able to tell you.

Do progressive jackpot casinos have other games?

Definitely. Progressive jackpots aren’t just limited to slots, either. So, even if all you did was play progressive you’d still have a handful of games to choose from.

That said, in addition to progressive jackpot games, you can also play games like keno, craps, roulette, sic bo and any other casino game you can think of. You can also play the progressive games, and just not attribute any money to the jackpot.

Can I play progressive jackpot games on my Mac?

Yes. At least at most online casinos. If the casino is Mac compatible, you’ll have one of two options.

The first option is a download. You’ll install the casino’s software to your computer.

The second option is an instant play game. You log-in on the casino’s site, choose your game and play from your browser.

Can I play progressives on my phone / tablet?

Yeah. However, this is hit or miss since mobile gambling is still new.

The casino will either have an app that you can download, or they’ll send the individual games you want to play. You’ll need to visit the casino’s mobile page (if they have one) to find out what they have.

Are there any downsides to playing progressive jackpots?

The biggest downside is the money you have to invest to try to win the jackpot. Every game will require an additional bet or that you wager the maximum each spin or turn. And you don’t win anything extra to make up for that additional wager. So you can burn through your bankroll quickly.

What are the odds of hitting a progressive jackpot?

It depends. The odds are definitely stacked against you, though. Odds of 20 million or 40 million to 1 are normal.

What’s the largest jackpot ever won online?

The largest jackpot ever won online (that we know about) is 8.62 million or €6,374,434. It was won in May of 2009 by Georgios M of Greece. He was playing the Mega Moolah slot machine, a game that you can still play today.